Research > Environmental Scan > Programs > Nurse Family Partnership
About
National: http://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/
Colorado: http://www.iik.org/nurse_family/index.php

Contact: Holly Ruud, Program Coordinator, Colorado Nurse-Family Partnership
hruud@iik.org
From Program Overview
Nurse-Family Partnership is a relationship-based program that partners highly-trained professional nurses with vulnerable first-time mothers and their babies. The program transforms lives through improved pregnancy outcomes, promotion of child health and development, and the encouragement of economic self-sufficiency for families. Invest in Kids selected Nurse-Family Partnership as our first program because of its life-changing impact for mothers and babies, demonstrated through long-term, rigorous scientific research.
How It Works
From Program Approach
In this program, nurses visit mothers and babies in their homes for over two years. The program is uniquely effective due to the following characteristics:
  1. Voluntary enrollment of first-time, low-income mothers: optimal time to promote positive behaviors
  2. Long-term program duration: from early in pregnancy through child’s second birthday for continuity and support
  3. Delivered by highly-trained, registered nurses: trusted and competent professionals who deliver skilled consultation and mentoring
  4. Relationship-based: nurses develop close, trusting relationships with the mother and her child
  5. Strengths-based: an emphasis on client’s unique strengths and development of a positive vision and plan for their lives and the lives of their children
Target Audience: First-time moms
Voluntary enrollment of first-time, low-income mothers: optimal time to promote positive behaviors
Sustained effort over time
Long-term program duration: from early in pregnancy through child’s second birthday for continuity and support
Active involvement of participants
Strengths-based: an emphasis on client’s unique strengths and development of a positive vision and plan for their lives and the lives of their children
Partnerships with other organizations
From Invest in Kids' Role
Invest in Kids is responsible for the program’s ongoing growth and development, acting as advocate for funding and expansion, and consultant for continuing education and collaboration with program nurses.
  1. Community planning: ensures that all local communities who have or plan to have Nurse-Family Partnership have the knowledge, skills, and support needed to sustain the program and build strong nursing teams
  2. Training: ensures that all nurse-home visitors and their supervisors are prepared and supported in delivering Nurse-Family Partnership to diverse communities and families
  3. Data: helps Nurse-Family Partnership local teams interpret client data for quality improvement
  4. Advocacy: protects state funding for Nurse-Family Partnership through education and advocacy
Assessments
From Results
Nurse-Family Partnership is one of the few programs in the country with over 30 years of clinical trials. These trials prove that Nurse-Family Partnership produces long term changes in clients’ lives. In Colorado, 2011 data shows:
  • 13,553 families served in Colorado since 1999
  • 47% reduction in domestic violence during pregnancy
  • 21% reduction in smoking and 37% reduction in alcohol use during pregnancy
  • 91.6% of babies were born full-term
  • 91% initiated breast feeding (vs 82.5% Colorado average)
  • 90% child immunization rate at 24 months (vs. 79% Colorado average)

Colorado-Specific Outcomes From Research & Evidence
Women participating in the Colorado NFP have:
  • Significant reductions (-20%) in cigarette smoking during pregnancy – an important positive outcome as the program is funded through tobacco dollars
  • Significant reductions during pregnancy in nearly every measure of family/domestic violence including physical (-46%) and fear of partner (-48%)
  • Increased employment in the Colorado workforce by NFP mothers of all ages
  • Increased rates of marriage during participation in the NFP (from 21% at intake to 37% at program completion)
  • 41% of those entering the program without a diploma or GED received their diploma/GED by program completion
Infants born to Colorado NFP mothers have:
  • An overall preterm birth rate consistently lower than the Colorado rate
  • An overall low birth weight rate consistently lower than the Colorado statewide rate
  • Completed immunization rates of over 92% at 24 months of age for all vaccines; this compares with the 2007 Colorado state immunization rate for all vaccines of 78% among 19-35 month old children
  • Breast feeding rates of 87% at birth; 34% continue to breast feed at 6 months of age, which is virtually identical to national rates for all mothers (and NFP in Colorado serves the most at-risk mothers in our state)
  • High rates of success in achieving developmental and language milestones based on screening tests and other assessments

Individual attention
Relationship-based: nurses develop close, trusting relationships with the mother and her child